Springfield observes National Day of Prayer

Turnout for breakfast event doubles attendance from last year.

They prayed Thursday morning for the church, for families, for teachers, for students, for businesses, for the president, for Congress, for the mayor, for the city and county commissioners, for the police, for the sheriff and for the military.

They even prayed for the media.

In all, 300 people joined together in prayer at the Hollenbeck Bayley Creative Arts and Conference Center during Clark County’s annual National Day of Prayer breakfast.

The faithful then reconvened at noon to pray further at City Hall Plaza.

“It brings the community together in good ways,” said Carol Godin, county coordinator for the National Day of Prayer. “When we pray together, it’s powerful.”

“That’s what Springfield needs,” Godin added. “That’s what the country needs.”

The Springfield City Hall Plaza was filled with prayers Thursday, May 2, 2013 as dozens of participants take part in the National Day of Prayer. Bill Lackey/Staff

The National Day of Prayer has been observed annually since 1952, when President Harry S. Truman signed it into law.

“I loved that it was a time of fellowship with believers of all denominations,” Jessica Harper, 22, a member of Crosspointe Community Church, said after the prayer breakfast.

This year marked a change of venue for the breakfast, and it paid off. Last year, 150 attended, Godin said.

“God hears our prayers. It’s not a cliche,” Bill Brown, president of Cedarville University, told those gathered at the breakfast. “Our prayers mean something. The scriptures are clear, they do make a difference.”

Local business owner Jacob Berner roused the early morning crowd with his prayer for the military, urging the nation’s troops to adorn a “breastplate of righteousness.”

“We pray in the name of Jesus for a great revival in our military,” Berner said. “We know there are a lot of disciples in the military. Give them power. Empower them to share the gospel of Jesus.”

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